similar

[ sim-uh-ler ]

adjective

1. having a likeness or resemblance, especially in a general way:

   two similar houses.

   Synonyms: like

   Antonyms: different

2. Geometry. (of figures) having the same shape; having corresponding sides proportional and corresponding angles equal:

   similar triangles.

3. Mathematics. (of two square matrices) related by means of a similarity transformation.

similar

/ ˈsɪmɪlə; ˌsɪmɪˈlærɪtɪ /

adjective

1. showing resemblance in qualities, characteristics, or appearance; alike but not identical
2. geometry (of two or more figures) having corresponding angles equal and all corresponding sides in the same ratio Compare congruent
3. maths (of two classes) equinumerous

Usage

As should not be used after similar: Wilson held a similar position to Jones (not a similar position as Jones ); the system is similar to the one in France (not similar as the one in France )

Derived Forms

• similarity, noun
• ˈsimilarly, adverb

Other Words From

• sim·i·lar·ly adverb
• non·sim·i·lar adjective
• qua·si-sim·i·lar adjective
• self-sim·i·lar adjective
• un·sim·i·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of similar¹

First recorded in 1605–15; earlier similary, from French similaire or directly from Medieval Latin similāris, equivalent to Latin simili(s) “like, similar” (akin to simul “together”; simplex ) + -āris -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of similar¹

C17: from Old French similaire, from Latin similis

Synonym Study

See same.

Example Sentences

Patterns similar to those in the Amazon and Pantanal have also played out in Indonesia in recent years.

From Vox

Something similar happened in Michigan that same year, and in North Carolina two years earlier.

From Vox

NBCU’s Total Investment Impact is similar to the media mix modeling that marketers use internally to gauge how they should be allocating their advertising dollars.

From Digiday

Siri has a similar feature called Shortcuts—it should appear as an app on your iPhone, but you can also download it here.

From Popular-Science

Turns out KPBS did manage to get similar data broken down by ZIP codes from El Cajon.

From Voice of San Diego

“I think the types of stories we do are very similar to what happened with hip-hop,” says Jones.

From The Daily Beast

On Dec. 30, she filed a similar lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court.

From The Daily Beast

Hopefully not overly close, but we talk about it in the episode how similar it is.

From The Daily Beast

Cassandra, whose hair has already begun to fall out from her court-mandated chemotherapy, could face a similar outcome.

From The Daily Beast

Rates are thought to be similar in developed countries around the world.

From The Daily Beast

It, or a similar bacillus, is sometimes found in the sputum of gangrene of the lung.

From Project Gutenberg

A similar state had occurred that 'Karnak night' of a long ten days ago, though he had not understood it then.

From Project Gutenberg

The collection in the Academy I thought much better, but still far enough behind similar galleries in Rome.

From Project Gutenberg

Many times, in his dreams and in his waking thoughts, he had lived over scenes similar to this.

From Project Gutenberg

The wedding breakfast very much resembled the similar festivities at which most of us have assisted.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• akin
• analogous
• comparable
• complementary
• identical
• related